Designer Jill Richards, 85
Designer Jill Richards died on April 21 of natural causes. She was 85 years old.
Known for her sophisticated and glamorous dresses, Richards began her fashion career in the late 1960s, launching her business from the guest house of her Beverly Hills home.
Design was a second career for Richards, who appeared in several Warner Bros. films in the 1950s, including “April in Paris” and “Painting the Clouds With Sunshine.” She transitioned into television with roles on “The Cisco Kid,” “Death Valley Days,” “Wyatt Earp” and “Dragnet.”
Her first fashion collection appeared on the cover of the California Apparel News and in the pages of the Los Angeles Times and caught the attention of then–California first lady Nancy Reagan. The strong start helped launch her fashion career, which lasted 25 years. Jill Richards clothing was carried at retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, I. Magnin & Co. and Bullocks.
“It grew into a very large business,” said her son, Jon Richmond. “She was an important resource for all those stores.”
Richards decided to try her hand at design—in part because she had trouble finding “fine things to wear,” said Richmond, who added that his mother was also inspired by her friend Marilyn Lewis, designer of the successful Cardinali line.
“A lot of it was driven by her own personal sense of style and taste as a hostess in Beverly Hills,” said Richmond, noting that his mother offered her customers couture fabrics and styling at bridge prices.
“Her customer was a woman who was very elegant. She took a lot of pride in the way she dressed; she rejected the trendier fashions,” he said.
Beverly Hills–based designer David Hayes said he first met Richards at least 25 years ago. She soon became a contemporary and a customer of Hayes.
“I remember the first time I was invited to her house—she had lots of actors there,” he said, recalling that Richards had a love for “gold and pretty things,” which she used to decorate her house.
“She worked hard and she played hard; she had a good career,” he added. “She was a lovely gal.”
After closing her business, Richards remained a part of the industry, covering fashion for local publications, including the Beverly Hills Post, said Richmond.
Richards was part of a group of designers that paved the way for a new generation of California-based designers, said Richmond.
“She influenced a whole host of young designers,” he said. “At that time, California was not on the map. She and Travilla and James Galanos really pushed California into the limelight and paved the way for young designers.”
Among them was Kevan Hall, who worked for Richards in the early 1980s.
“It was one of my first jobs,” said Hall, who worked as an assistant designer and sketcher. “She was a very sweet, kind and generous lady.”
Hall recalled Richards’ sense of style and accomplishment at eveningwear.
“She had a great hand for party dresses and evening gowns—they were very glamorous,” he said. “People called her the queen of ruffles.”
Richards is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Mary Lynn; two granddaughters, Jillian and Brittany; and her grandson, Nicholas.—Alison A. Nieder
